Carrageenan Based Films

Among bio-based polymers, the sulfated polysaccharide carrageenan has been considered as an attractive material in various applications as additive used by the food industry for its gelling, emulsifying, stabilizing, and thickening properties. Starting from marine macroalgae, a renewable resource has promoted the development of new manufacturing opportunities. Such high-value green materials are inexpensive, abundant, biocompatible, biodegradable, and getting ready for recycling, therefore, well suited to the circular economy. Moreover, as sulfated galactan, carrageenan has been exploited for its good film-forming ability, particularly in food packaging. Besides ensuring the protection, safety, and quality of food, recent innovations attempt to meet consumer demand for fresh, minimally processed and preservative-free foods and, thus, open up emerging alternatives in food packaging based on the development and use of biofilms from environmentally friendly materials. Recent applications and trends have exploited carrageenan for the development of smart active packaging based on antibacterial biofilms aimed at extending the shelf life of food products and overcoming the limitations of conventional antibacterial means. This chapter represents an overview of the recent research reports about the structural, rheological, and thermo-mechanical properties of carrageenan and carrageenan derivative-based films, their preparations, and applications.